Washing machine



O- T. DEHLE WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1928 4 SheelLS-Sheetl l C. T. DEHLE WASHING MACHINE Feb. 149 11933,

Filed Aug. 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1933. o, T DEHLE 1 1,897,953

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb.. 14, 1933., y O. T DEHLE m8973953 WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 s x Ju.

Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES OTTO T. DEHLE, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MULTI-HYDRO 'WASHING PATENT OFFICE MACHINE COMPANY, 0F BOSTON. MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS WASHING MACHINE Application filed August 23, 1928. Serial 110,301,541.

This invention relates to improved washing machines'and method of washing.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a machine that will quickly wash clothes clean by the movement of a Saponaceous fluid in a tank introduced under pressure Without the use of dashers, paddles, pounders, or mechanical agitatrs of any kind now so commonly used.

I am aware that I am not the first to make a washing machine designed to-washclothes clean by delivering water under pressure to the tank and causing it to circulate. The machines heretofore made for this purpose wash very slowly, and while accomplishing fairly satisfactory results with small pieces just slightly soiled, are unsatisfactory when used to do the ordinary family washing which includes large pieces such as sheets, and clothes which are very soiled. Their failure has been'largely due to the fact-that they established a relatively smooth and regular path of movement with the consequence that their action lacked the vigor which is necessary to wash clothes clean.

In order to thoroughly wash soiled clothes,

the'water must be rapidly and vigorously forced through the meshes in the cloth many times to thereby'ca-rry away the loosened soil or dirt. To do this in a short space of time is one of the objects of my invention. I have found that dirty clothes may be thoroughly and quickly cleaned, with the minimum of wear, by the ,rapid movement of streams of soapy water under pressure introduced to the tank in several different directions at the same time, one or )more of vwhich streams flows upwardly. For instance, surprising results are accomplished withmy machine by Vsimultaneously introducing the liquid in (1 upwardly directed streams through inlets located at the bottom of the tank, (2) in hor' zontally directed streams through inlets located at one side of the tank, and (3) a downwardly directed stream through an inlet lo- V'edly penetrated with suds as they are vigorously pushed upwardly by the vertical streams from the bottom, and while ascending come in contact with the horizontal streams which tend to push them sidewise. As the horizontal streams of water pour through the clothes, their tendency to push the clothes sidewise is at first partly counteracted by the upward motion previously imparted to the clothes, and this clash of streams tends to hold them momentarily in a. fixed position, and the horizontal streams of water are forced through the clothes much oftener and much more forcibly than' when they are not subjected tovcounteracting streams; for instance, as when they follow an even circular path around the tank. The horizontal streams push the clothes over to the opposite side of the tank where4 the downwardly directed streanrpushes the clothes to the bottom again, andthe same action is repeated. The clothes follow a somewhat irregular, triangular path, and the three sudden changes in the direction of theirmovement serve to vigorously force water through them rapidly and repeatedly as they are. moved about.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is betthe scope of my claims In the drawings: Figure 1 is' aplan view, with the cover removed, of a washing machine constructed.'v

' ir accordance with my invention.

ure 1. y Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figu 1 and 2.

Figure 4v is a section on line 4.-4of Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a-section on line 2 2 of Fig- Figure 5 is a detail, in plan and partly in section of part of the return conduit and automatic unclogging mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail hereinafter described.

Figure 7 is a side view of a three-way valve. x i

Like numerals and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

The embodiment ot my invention herein illustrated includes a trame which may be in the form of a cabinet or box comprising tour corner posts 1, Figure 1; four metal side walls 2, Figures 2 and 3, one of which is usually constructed with a door opening and door (not shown) to provide for access to the interior of the cabinet, a bottom wall 3 and a top wall 4. The top wall 4 is a rectangular frame providing within it a rectangular opening that is occupied by a metal tank or container 5 that is square as viewed in plan. The chime of this tank is made with an out-turned flange 6 resting upon and secured to the top wall frame 4.

There are four side walls of the tank 5, two of which walls 7, 7 (opposite each other) are disposed vertically and are integral with the side walls 8 and 9 and the bottom wall 10. The bottom wall 10 slopes downwardly at an appreciable angle toward the side wall 8, and adjacent said wall 8 an elongated hole or opening 11, Figures 3 and 4, is made that is .immediately above a pipe terminal 12. This pipe terminal 12 may, as shown, be a metal casting comprising a flanged body 13 soldered, riveted, or otherwise fastened in position against the bot-tom side of the bottom wall 10. The body 13 provides a chamber 14 provided at its top with two inlet openings 15, the outer end of each of the latter being counterbored to receive within it a grille disk 16 which may be a thin perforated metal plate, through the holes or open'- ings in which water escapes and returns to the pump.

The chamber 14 is also provided with an outlet port 17 with which a branch port 18 communicates. with two ports or openings 19 the outlet end of each of which is made as an upwardly directed nozzle 20, through wh ose opening 19 water flows upwardly into the tank, whose upper end occupies a position within a hole provided at the middle of one of the grille disks 16.

The outlet portl 17 of chamber 14 is connected by a pipe line 21, 21a, 2lb with the lintake 22 of a centrifugal pump 23 whose rotor is connected with and driven by the armature shaft 24 of an electric motor 25. Both the centrifugal pump 23 and the motor 25are fixed to a base plate 261 which. in turn, ,is fixed to the bottom wall 3 of the cabinet.

The outlet 26 of the pump 23 is connected by a pipe 27 with the inlet port of a threeway valve 28, Figures l and 2, provided with Also, the body 13 is made two outlets 29 and 30. The outlet 29 has connected with it a manifold 31 from which two branch pipes 32 extend upwardly to the pipe terminal 12 where their upper ends are connected with the inlet ends of the two ports or openings 19.

|The manifold 31 also has connected with it three pipes 33 which extend upwardly therefrom alongside of the tank or container 5 to near the upper end of the lat-ter where they are connected by pipe terminals 34 with the interior of the tank 5. Fach pipe terminal 34 is preferably a casting soldered, riveted,

or otherwise fastened to the lwall 8 of the tank and made with a port 35 through it, whose inlet end is connected with one of the pipes 33. rThe opposite delivery end portion of the port 35, through which a horizontal stream enters the tank, communicates with and is directed laterally into the tank 5, said end portion tapering toward the latter as shown.

Upon the outer side of the opposite wall 9 ot the tank 5is soldered, riveted or otherwise fastened, a single pipe terminal 36 which -is preferably a casting made interiorly with two ports 37 and 38. The port 37 serves as an inlet for the introduction of water to the tank, while the port 38 serves as an outlet for the escape of water from the tank under certain conditions referred to later. lThe inlet end of the port 37 is connected by a pipe 39 with the manifold 31 while the outlet end of the port 38 is connected by an auxiliary suction or return conduit 40 with one of the two inlets of a three-way valve 41, the other inlet of this valve being connected by the pipe line section 21 with the outlet end of the port 17 of pipe terminal 12. The single outlet of the three-way valve 41 is connected by pipe line sections 21a and 2lb with the intake 22 of pump 23. Normally the valve 41 maintains the pipe 40 closed with the two pipe line sections 21 and 21a in communication as shown in Figure 6.

A metal grille 42, through the holes of which` water escapes and returns to the pump in case the holes in grille disk 16 become clogged, is secured to the inner side of the pipe terminal 36 and covers the inlet end ot' the port 38 so that the clothes or other articles being washed are prevented from entering the latter.

The other port 37 of the terminal 36 is made with a straight delivery end portion communicating with the interior of the tank 5, and this delivery end portion occupies an oblique downwardly directed position as shown in Figure 3, delivering water into the tank in a downward direction.

The stem 46 of the three-way valve 41,'

49 that is fulcrumed at 50 upon an arm project-ing from the head 51 of a cylinder 52.

upon top wall 4 is end of the cylinder, and this nipple is screwed' into the interiorly threaded outer end portion of the branch port 18 above referred to. It will thus be clear that the pressure Within the cylinder 52 is always the same as, the pressure within the main suction or returnconduit of which chamber 14 and ,pipe 21 form part, and varies with the pressure Withy in the latter.

A coiled spring 55 mounted on stem 53 between head 51.. and an adjustable collar 56 carried by the stem, serves to normally and yieldingly hold the piston 54 at the limit of its movement toward the left, Figuref. The collar 56 is set so that the pressure of the spring 55 is sucient to hold the piston in this position while the machine is in operation and so long as the pressure within the cylinder 52 remains normal and above a predetermined point for which the collar 56 is adjusted. When the pressure within the` `outer end of the piston 54 overcomes the resistance of spring 55 and moves `the piston1 toward the right, Figure 5. Normally the spring 55 acts through the lever 49 and link 48 to hold the plug 57 of the valve 41 in position to close the auxiliary suction or return conduit 40 and maintain communication between the chamber 14 of terminal 12 and the intake of pump 23 as shown in Figure 6. When, however, the piston 54 is shifted toward the right, Figure 5, through an increase in the suction edects within conduit 17 and chamber 14, then said piston acts through the lever 49 and link 48 to adjust the plug 57 of valve 41 so that the latter establishes communication between the auxiliaryreturn or suction conduit 40 and the intake 23vand simultaneously shuts off, or regulates, communicat-ion between chamber 14 and the intake 23.-

A cover 43 hinged at 44 to lugs 45 provided provided for closing the top of tank 5. 4

In using the machine, the tank 5 is loaded With water until the level of the latter is ust above the ports 35 as shown at WV in Figure 3 and into this water are placed the clothes that are to be washed. l/Vhen the motor and pump are started in operation by closing the usual switch (not shown) that is in the circuit of the motor, Water is caused to flow from tank 5 through the grilles 16, chamber 14, port 17, pipe section 2l, valve 41, and pipe sections 21a and 2lb to 'the intake of the pump 23 from which latter it is forced Y through ipe section 27 and valve 28 into the manifol 3l.v From the manifold 31 the water is discharged'through the pipes 32, 33 and 39 back into the tank 5,

During the operation of the machine three jets o'f water are discharged horizontally across the upper portion of the tank 5 from vthe ports 35;'a single downwardly oblique jet of Water is discharged from the port 3T at the Opposite side of the tank toward which the ports 35 'are directed, and two jets of water arev dscliarged upwardly from the ports 19 at the bottom of the tank. These jets of water not onlycause a vigorous movenient of'I the body of water but also of the clothes, moving them in an uneven, triangular path as they tumble about.

Each nozzle 20, through which one of the ports 19 extends, is positioned at the middle of its grille disk 16 and is surrounded by the openings of the latter which l are all comparatively close to said nozzle. rl`his is a feature lof advantage s'nce the upwardly directed jets discharging from the. ports 19 opcrate to propel the clothes away from the outlet grilles thereby preventing the clothes from lodging on the grilles and clogging the main outlets of the tank. llt is also a feature of importance that the outlet grilles 16 and nozzles 20 are disposed adjacent the lower end of that .side wall of the tank 5 from which the horizontally directed jets are discharged, for the reason that with this d`sposition of parts the outlowing water and the upwardly directed jets from the nozzles assist in maintaining the motion of the tanks vcontents previously referred to.

j If by chance some article in the wash or foreign matter lodges on one or both of the outlet grilles 16 and clogs the machine, then the increased suct'on edects within the chamber 14 and ports 17 operate to cause the piston. 54 to be shifted toward the right, Figure 5, thusv reversing, or adjusting the threeway valve 41 so as to open communication between the auxiliary return or suction conduit 40 and the intake of the pump, and at the same time" reducing or eliminating the suction effects within the chamber 14.` The article or garment being thus freed from the suction eects of the pump is forced up- Wardly away from the outlet grilles 16 by the jets of Water discharged from the ports 19, whereupon the pressure condition within port 17 and cylinder 52 returns to normal, and the piston 54 is automatically operated torestore valve 41 to its normal position, thus closing the auxili ary return 40 and restoring the machine to its normal operating condition. Thus, should the machine become cloggedwhile operating, the valve 4l is autoy matically operated to unclog the same.

The jet of water discharged from port 37 obliquely downwardly in front of the grille 42 of auxiliary port 38 also serves as a screen to prevent an article that is being washed from lodging on said grille while the auxiliary return conduit is temporarily in use as above described.

rlhe three-way valve 28 is provided for use in drawing oi or removing the water from tank after washing operations. When this is to be done, the motor is stopped and the clothes are removed from the tank, after which the valve 28 is adjusted to close the in let end of manifold 31 and establish communication between the outlet or the pump and the outlet 30 of valve 28. The motor is then started and as will be clear the discharge from the pump will leave the valve 28 through the outlet 30 thereof to be discharged. l

What l claim is:

l. A washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forcing said liquid into said receptacle and receiving; it again, said receptacle having not less than three ports for the introduction of said liquid into it, said ports being so positioned with relation to each other that the entering streams of said liquid move the clothes about the receptacle in a path, abruptly changing the direction of their movement at least three times in each cycle of travel about the receptacle. Y

2. A. washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means Jfor forcing said liquid into said receptacle and receiving it again, said receptacle having ports for the introduction of said liqud into it at the bottom and at two sides opposite each other, said ports being so positioned with relation to eachother that the entering streams force the clothes to travel continuously from close proximity-to the bottom port to close proximity to one of the side ports, thence to close proximity to the port at the opposite side and thence to close proximity to said bottom port.

3. Aclothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means :tor forcing said liquid to said receptacle and receiving it again, said receptacle having a port at the bottom for the introduction of a stream upwardly, a port at one side tor the introduction of a stream horizontally and a-port at the opposite side for the introduction 'oi a stream downwardly, said ports being widely spaced apart and so positioned with relation to each other that the upward stream moves the, articles to a point adjacent the entering point of said horizontal stream, and the horizontal stream moves the articles to a point adliacent the entering point of vsaid downward stream, and said downward stream moves the articles to a point adjacent the entering point of said upward stream.

d. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a cleansing liqe- Leeaeaa uid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forcing said liquid to said receptacle and receiving it again, said receptacle having a port at the bottom adjacent one side of the receptacle, a port at said side more than halfway up the receptacle and a port at another side opposite the first-mentioned side, said ports being so positioned with respect to each other that the streams entering through them cause the articles to be moved in a path about the receptacle moving consecutively trom close proximity to one port to close proximity to another, whereby each stream entering through said ports changes the direction of said movement.

5. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a cleansing liqduction of a stream horizontally, and another" port at the opposite side for the introduction of a stream obliquely downward, said ports being so located relative to eaph other that said articles are caused to be moved by the streams entering through said ports in a substantially regular course in said receptacle and are brought in close proximity to each of said ports during each complete movement about the receptacle.

6. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to .receive a cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forcing said liquid to said receptacle and receiving it again, said receptacle having ports at three widely separated points tor the introduction of said liquid in three difierent directions, one of said ports being located at the bottom, another port at a side and an'- other port at a side opposite said first-mentioned side, said bottom port being so positioned relative v'to said first-mentioned side port. whereby' said liq'uid enteringsaid recepe tacle through said bottom port will force said articles in close proximity to said first-mentioned side port, and said ports at said sides being so positioned relative to each other that said liquid entering said receptacle through said'iirst-mentioned side port will cause said articles to be moved in close proximity to said second-mentioned side port, and said secondmentioned sideport being so positioned relative to said bottom port that said liquid entering said receptacle through said second-mentioned side port will force said articles in close proximity to and above said bottom ort.

*A 7. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forcing the liquid to said receptacleand receiving it again', said receptacle having openings for the introduction of the liquid,

openings to permit its return to said forcing means, and auxiliary return openings, and auxiliary receiving means, normally closed, connected to said auxiliary openings and automatic means to open said auxiliary means when the Jirst mentioned return openings become clogged.

8. A washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive acleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, a pump and conduits for forcing liquid to said receptacle and receiving it again, said receptacle having openings for the introduction of the liquid through said conduits leading tothe receptacle and openings to permit its escape into said conduits leading from the receptacle and auxiliary openings to permit its escape- When the first said escape openings become clogged, and an auxiliary conduit connecting said auxiliary openings to said pump which auxiliary conduit is normally closed, and automatically operated means setin operation upon the clogging of thel first said escape openings to open said auxiliary conduit.

9. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forcing said liquid into said receptacle and receiving it again from said receptacle, said receptacle having a port at the bottom near one side of said receptacle for the introduction of a stream upwardly, a horizontal port in the upper part of said side for the introduction of a stream diametrically, and a port at the opposite side inclined towards said iirst port for the introduction of a stream downwardly.

l0. A Washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forcing` said liquid into said receptacle and receiving it again, said receptacle having ports for the introduction of said liquid in streams into it one at the bottom and one at each of two sides opposite each other, comprising means to direct each stream from its respective port toward the next succeeding port.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of August, 1928.

OTTO T. DEHLE. 

